Discussion Question 1 - completed during Weekend One


What do you know about using technology with students?
What do you want to know about using technology with students?


Using technology with students is a way to engage and excite them about learning. I see children want to participate and share when they are using technology. I am able to see a different side of students when they use technology as they are given a different way to express their knowledge. Technology is a way for students to take their learning outside of the classroom while at school.

I want to continue to learn how to incorporate technology into my classroom even when supplies are limited. I want to know how I can use it in different subject areas and still have the content standards covered. I often find myself wanting to use technology with my students but I don't know how to incorporate it into the concepts being taught!

Discussion Question 2 - completed during Weekend One


Look at the Essential 21st Century Skills List - Select one skill and discuss how you already meet this skill via your current instruction.
Social Responsibility—Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind; demonstrating ethical behavior in personal, workplace, and community contexts
I feel that this is an area that is met in my classroom. Many discussions deal with the types of behaviors that are appropriate for different types of setting. I feel that students sharing in discussion about behavior is important because it is important for them to understand that although someone may not be watching over their shoulder they should still do the right thing. Students learn that you don't do something so you will be rewarded you do it because you know it is ethical. Now if they carry this idea into the middle school years is still to be determined!

Select another Essential 21st Century Skill that you may NOT already touch upon and project how you might be able to meet that need in future instruction.

Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills—Demonstrating teamwork and leadership; adapting to varied roles and responsibilities; working productively with others; exercising empathy; respecting diverse perspectives
Although I feel this topic is somewhat similar to the skill mentioned above I feel that I do not address it as much in my classroom. We obviously talk about empathy and respecting others but I rarely discuss teamwork or leadership. I would like to provide my students with more examples of these in my classroom. This past year I was unable to put students together for group work because I had a tough class, but I could have focused more on finding leaders in the group to help work towards the teamwork idea. I hope to have my students work more as a team to problem solve and adapt to different responsibilities because the truth is we do not always get to do what we want!

Discussion Question 3 - to be completed one week after the Weekend One


Find a TeacherTube/YouTube video that you could use for instructional purposes and copy and paste the address of the video for others to view. Explain how you would use this with your students.

I have used this video the past 3 years with my students after I found it on youtube. We watch it 2 times, the first time we watch and laugh and the second time we focus on the content. Students enjoy the song and remember it along with the fact that they truly understand the concept of homophones.

Discussion Question 4 - to be completed Saturday/Weekend Two


To complete the KWHL- what have you learned from the readings, activities and discussions from this course about using technology with your students?
I have to start by saying that I truly enjoyed this class and I feel that it has provided me with many options to use in my classroom. We covered many topics throughout the course that I believe would be easy and fun to incorporate into our daily education activities. I am still amazed at how many resources and activities are available for teachers and students and I feel that they are important to include for our 21st century learners. I feel more comfortable adding technology into the classroom as we discover and learn about new resources. The text, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works, is a great reference on ways to incorporate technology into all aspects of education. This class has definitely opened my eyes to vast amounts of technology to use day to day.